WH Smith said that if the sale continues, the post office will be retained
Wh Smith told the BBC that if its high street business is continued, the post office in its store will be retained.
The retailer issued a statement after questioning the future of the 195 post office in the store.
The company is negotiating the possibility of selling its high street stores because its business has more concentrated in the shops of airports and railway stations.
The company said that its “partnership” with the post office is the “important part of the business” of the business, and “if we continue to sell our high street business to the new owners, the partnership will continue.”
Since the news that WH SMITH may be sold at the Gajie Store on the weekend, many people have contacted the BBC and asked about the fate of the post office in the store. The company has been reporting these post offices since 2006.
In addition to mailing letters and parcels, the post office also provides After many bank branches are closed, more and more cash deposits and withdrawals are increasingly handled. They also handle the update of driving licenses or passports and bill payment.
Wh Smith once said its high street store, The company has about 5,000 employees, which is still “the group's profit and cash generation part”, and is exploring various options, “including possible sale.”
It added: “It is impossible to determine whether any agreement will be reached and it will provide further updates at appropriate time.”
However, the retailer later told BBC that WH SMITH was proud of the “partnership relationship” with the post office, and if the sales were successful, this cooperative relationship would continue to exist.
The BBC learned that the business relationship between retailers and post offices is very strong, and it is good for both parties. Therefore, any new potential buyers may maintain their current arrangements.
For example, the establishment of a post office in the store can increase passenger flow, thereby increasing the sales of WH SMITH stores, and the post office can benefit from cheaper operating costs.
The Communications Workers' Union (CWU) stated that it represented the staff of the post office in the store and expressed concerns about the future of its members, and warned that any possible closure will be “devastating.”
A spokesman for the post office told the BBC that he had contacted its PH SMITH and added that the company “regularly notified us their future business plans and their development methods.”
They added: “The post office service at these locations has not changed.”
The first of the 500 stores of Wh Smith opened in 230 years ago and was originally a news vendor. Since then, it has developed into a major commercial street and tourist retailers.
The Tourism retail business of Wh Smith covers airports, railway stations and hospitals. It currently accounts for more than 85% of its profits, and operates 1,200 stores in 32 countries.
The news sold this time was announced at the time of the poor economic prospects of Gajie retailers.
Louise Martin, 55, is from Pognolgis, engaged in financial work in an independent animal charity institution with 9 retail stores. Three of these banks relied on the local WH SMITH Post Office counter to handle the banking business because other branches in the region have been closed.
She said that losing the local post office will have an impact on the “most retail stores” in the region, including her business.
“We do not have a local bank branch, so the store manager must drive (because it is not safe because carrying cash further) to another post office,” Ms. Martin said.
She believes that plans should be made to ensure similar replacement in the city without any closure, “or at least one facilities that can store cash and find zero at the cashier.”
In recent years, the State -owned Post Office has been under pressure. November last year, It is announced that it is evaluating the future of the 115 branches it owns. A choice at that time was Explore the deepening of franchise arrangements with the Wh Smith.
The reputation of the post office was also severely damaged due to the Horizo N IT scandal. Hundreds of postal directors and mistresses seemed to be convicted because of the defective software.
In addition to the post office, some who store stores also have Toys anti -Doucheng discount.
In 2024, the revenue of the whims High Street store decreased by 17 million pounds from the previous year. However, after the company closed 14 stores last year, the profit remained unchanged.
The stock price of Wh Smith rose on Monday, and investors prepared for the cash growth that could bring in sale. Some reports said that private equity acquirers are considering a transaction to control the retailer's high street store.
Analysts predict that the business may be sold at a price of 100 million pounds or higher in the next few months.
The government said that although any sales are “commercial issues” for the company, the post office has a “contractual obligation” and will “monitor”.
The Ministry of Commerce and Trade added that it “is committed to ensuring that it provides sustainable post office services for local communities.”